This new data reiterates GM’s goal of helping to reduce the nation’s dependence on petroleum and helping to reduce vehicle emissions, ultimately removing the vehicle from the environmental debate.

The company’s three-pronged strategy to accomplish these goals includes: making advancements to the traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) and offering alternative fuels like E85, expanding its hybrid portfolio and developing fuel-cell powered vehicles.

“General Motors’ fuel economy leadership position further exemplifies our commitment to continually increasing the efficiency of our vehicles,” said Elizabeth Lowery, GM vice president of Energy and Environment. “We offered 14 vehicles that achieve 30 mpg in 2006 and that number has risen to 23 for 2007. Clearly our propulsion strategy is critical to our business, and it also is beneficial to consumers and the environment.”

ICE Improvements

There are several key powertrain technologies that GM is implementing in vehicles today to improve fuel efficiency, including engine variable valve timing, Active Fuel Management and six-speed transmissions.

GM also is diligently pursuing E85 Flex Fuel vehicles. E85 ethanol, a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, is an alternative fuel to help combat both of these challenges. A GM brand Flex Fuel vehicle can run on any combination of gasoline and/or E85 ethanol. GM already has more than two million flex-fuel models on North American roads offered through Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Saturn, and has been actively encouraging growth of the E85 refueling structure.

In 2007, GM will offer 16 E85-compatible Flex Fuel models totaling about 400,000 vehicles. Today, ethanol is primarily made from corn, but it can be produced by a variety of other materials.

Hybrids

GM has a diverse hybrid program, with three separate systems designed to meet American driving patterns and needs. The systems will vary in fuel economy savings and cost, providing an opportunity for more consumers to own a hybrid vehicle and benefit from increased fuel economy savings.

The new Saturn Vue Green Line, that achieves 32 mpg on the highway, is just one of 12 hybrids models GM will launch over the next few years to provide customers with several levels of fuel economy savings at different price points on vehicles ranging from cars to full-size SUVs. The Saturn Vue Green Line currently is available.

Fuel Cells

GM’s propulsion solution to provide the world with a cleaner, petroleum-free vehicle is the fuel cell. GM introduced the Chevrolet Sequel fuel cell vehicle in 2005. It is the first vehicle in the world to successfully integrate a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system with a broad menu of advanced technologies such as steer-and brake-by-wire controls, wheel hub motors, lithium-ion batteries and a light-weight aluminum structure. It uses clean, renewable hydrogen as a fuel and emits only water vapor.

The Sequel fundamentally changes the DNA of today’s automobiles, exchanging an internal combustion engine, petroleum and mechanical systems for fuel cell propulsion, hydrogen, and electrical systems. In the Sequel, GM has created a real vehicle that promises to lead to long-term sustainable automotive transportation.

GM will build more than 100 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell vehicles and will begin placing them with customers in the fall of 2007, as part of a comprehensive deployment plan dubbed “Project Driveway."